County blocked from cutting pay

The Grant County Commission discovered they could not lower commissioner salaries as they wished at their meeting on Thursday due to state statute. The commission also continued to consider changes at the hospital before bidding fond farewell to Commissioner Ron Hall, whose last meeting it was as a county commissioner.

During the commission’s Tuesday work session, current commissioners on the three-member board expressed a desire to decrease commissioner salaries to save the county some money before the board officially expands to the five members, which will include the three commissioners elected in November. This move would have made good on intentions expressed leading up to the current commission’s decision to expand to five districts and their representatives on the board in May.

But, according to County Manager Charlene Webb and County Attorney Abigail Robinson, decreasing the salaries was apparently never in the cards.

“The statute does not include the authority to decrease commissioner salaries, only to increase salaries,” Webb said during the meeting. “I’ve always interpreted the statute in the past as it allows commissioners to set salaries or adjust them,” she told the Daily Press. “But it only mentions ‘to increase.’”

Furthermore, Thursday was potentially the last chance to lower salaries for the three incoming commissioners anyway due to other language in state statute that limits when salaries can be changed.

“Elected officials cannot change their salaries in the middle of a term, so just every four years,” Webb said.

To make up for the inability to lower salaries, Webb said she had made some adjustments already in the budget based on commissioners’ current salaries and that she will likely recommend the commission decrease their discretionary fund because of increased insurance premiums this year.

That discretionary fund was the subject of criticisms by meeting regular James Baldwin, who called it a fund for “any pet project” each commissioner preferred.

“I see you want to decrease commissioner salaries, which I appreciate, but there is another side to lowering things,” Baldwin said. “I’m talking about the $50,000 annually you have to spend on your discretionary funding. I have never seen how that money has been allocated, where it went and when it went. I would very much like to see that fund reduced dramatically. I would also like to see it advertised, whether in print or verbally, so we know where it’s going.”

Commission Chair Brett Kasten later explained to the audience that the fund in question was a discretionary infrastructure fund which was all spent on items for the county — from chairs for the convention center or a stove for a senior center, to planning for the Tu Casa substance abuse treatment center or the trail between Bayard and Santa Clara. Commissioner Gabe Ramos called Baldwin’s critiques “unreal,” “ridiculous” and “uncalled for.”

HOSPITAL

Other members of the public voiced urgent concerns about what they see as even bigger problems at Gila Regional Medical Center than they think have been brought to light so far.

“I know we’re facing a very challenging time in health care,” said Rebecca VanNess, administrator of the Gila Multi-Specialty Independent Practice Association.

“But we are in a situation at the hospital that is far more challenging than we faced a few years ago. There have to be significant changes made at the hospital within days, not months. The harm to our health care community and the patients they serve could be devastating.”

VanNess recommended the commission pressure the hospital board of trustees, which the commission appoints, to name hospital Chief Financial Officer Mike Metts as interim CEO as soon as possible just so someone is there to begin the changes now.

“These changes need to be made immediately,” VanNess said. “And so far it seems like things are just moving along like they were.”

Billy Billings, recently elected District 4 commissioner who will begin his term in January, said that he too felt conditions at the hospital were more dire than widely believed.

“The financial situation of the hospital is more serious than we have been led to believe,” he told the commission Thursday. “We could be looking at a $5 million loss year-to-date. That’s a pretty serious south trajectory.”

Billings voiced deep reservations after hearing that 37 employees at Gila Regional make more than $100,000. He said he doubted that was in keeping with the industry standard.

He said the hospital needed an interim CEO who would come in and “shake things up.” Then, he said he hopes for a permanent CEO selection process close to the community-centered selection recently completed for the Silver Consolidated Schools superintendent, in which three committees made up of community members, board members and education professionals had a hand in making the final decision.

Thursday was also likely the final meeting for Hall, barring an emergency meeting if one is called in upcoming weeks. Hall was elected in 2012 by his constituents in what was then District 3, in the northwest region of the county. His district was largely absorbed in the change to five districts by the new District 4.

“Those are big shoes to fill,” said Billings, who will represent that area in the upcoming years.

Members of the public who have worked closely with Hall over the years also spoke in praise of the outgoing commissioner’s years of service.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for us,” said Sheriff Raul Villanueva, who also worked closely with Hall when Hall served as judge. “I look forward to being able to have a cup of coffee with you when I retire.”

“You have addressed the needs for some of the most broken and needy members of this community for many years,” said Chris DeBolt, retired former director of the Grant County Community Health Council.

Hall has been on the commission for fewer years than Kasten or Ramos, but served a prominent role in that time.

“It has been a pleasure working with you these last four years,” Kasten added. “I have only gotten to work with three commissioners so far and you have been a great one. I hope you enjoy your retirement and go see those grandkids often.”

“I have rounded the bases, of municipal, state and county government,” Hall said. “That’s 45 years, and I’m headed home.”

First and foremost, Hall thanked his “cornerstone,” wife, Jane, who died in 2014. “I am now going to enjoy my family and friends full time in this beautiful county we live in.”

In other news, Villanueva said that his department had discovered the source of the radio interference that had plagued them for months. It was out of El Paso County, which has since changed their frequency to avoid further disturbance.

The sheriff also wished county residents a happy and safe holiday season.